Disposable syringe

ABSTRACT

A spray nozzle has spray openings at one end and a flange at its other end, and a bag has folded or pleated portions of its thin plastic wall at the mouth of the bag or around a hole in said wall which has a thickness of the order of from 0.00125 to 0.005 of an inch. Said pleated portions are secured to said flange with a liquidtight connection either by a weld or by a clamping ring which may be either inside or outside the bag, grips said pleated portions between itself and said flange and by snap spring or screw action is quickly attachable to and detachable from said flange which may be either inside or outside the bag, so that the syringe can be compactly packaged, easily assembled for use and discarded after one use.

United States Patent v10/1969 Barr..

I Paul A. Zamarra [72] Inventor 10/1969 Corbinetal..,..,........,..

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examinerwj Yasko Attorney-Harry B. Rook Lake Road, Far Hills. 1207931 12|] Appl. No. 773,455 [221 Filed Nov. s, 1968 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [541 DISPOSABLE SYRINGE 1D 2 C mms 2 """ng mgs ABSTRACT: A spra PATENEU M29 Isn SHEET 1 F 3 lNVlsN'mR. Pazza.0 A. Zaman-'ra ATTORNEY PATENTEU luuzslsm SHEET 2 UF 3 lfvvu/v'mn. Para? A. Zamarra ATTORNEY DISPOSABLE SYRIINGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a disposable syringe of that type which includes a flexible-walled container for liquids, to which is connected a nozzle for directing the liquid from the container to1 for example, a body orifice.

2. The Prior Art One known disposable syringe comprises a rubber bag having walls thicker than toy balloon stock and formed .with a reduced opening with an elastic beaded edge, a tubular plug having a peripheral groove receiving said beaded edge, and a tubular nozzle having a connection with said plug consisting of interrupted threads` U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,866 shows a rectangular flat bag formed of polyethylene plastic and having in one wall a central circular opening in which is a plug having a flange inside said wall and a portion outside said wallwhich is screw-threaded and on which is screwed a nozzle which clamps the portion of the bag at the edge of said opening between said nozzle and said flange.

The constructions of the prior art devices leave much to be desired in that they are either too expensive or too difficult to assemble, do not lend themselves to easy and compact packaging, and require the making of special bags or containers for the liquid.

SUMMARY One object of the invention is to provide a disposable syringe which is inexpensive, easy to assemble, which can be readily and compactly packaged and which does not require the making of a special bag or container for the liquid.

The invention especially contemplates the use of a wellknown, readymade commercial bag that is commonly used for wrapping or packaging various articles, particularly food products such as sandwiches, as the liquid container for the syringe.

The invention also provides a novel and improved construction and combination of such a bag and a plastic spray tube or nozzle, wherein the thin foldable and collapsible plastic walls of the bag can be gathered and pleated at the mouth of the bag or gathered and pleated around a hole lpunched in the wall of the bag, and a liquidtight connection can be made between said pleated portions and a flange on the spray tube either by a weld or by a clamping ring which may be either inside or outside the bag and which grips the pleated portions between itself and said flange which may be either inside or outside the bag, by a snap spring or screw action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a complete understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a disposable syringe embodying the invention with portions of the bag broken away.

FIG. 2 is a detached side elevation, partially in vertical section of the spray tube shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4l is a view on a reduced scale ofa clamping ring shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end or plan view of the clamping ring shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view of a modification of the invention showing the spray tube and its connection to the pleated portions of the bag.

FIG. 6A is a detached sectional view of the clamping ring shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6B is a fragmentary side elevation of the flanged end of the spray tube shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing another modification of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a fragmentary side elevational view of the flanged end of the spray tube shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the clamping ring shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a view of another modification of the invention showing the flanged end portion of the spray tube in side elevation and the pleated portions of the bag and the clamping ring in vertical section.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of another modification of the invention showing the flanged end of the spray tube in side elevation and the pleated portions of the bag in vertical section and secured to the flange of the tube by welding or heat sealing. y

FIG. I0 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another modification ofthe invention.

FIG. l1 is an exploded sectional view ofthe flanged end of the spray tube and the clamping ring.

FIG. l2 is a view similar to FIG. 10|, showing another form of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded sectional view similar to FIG. 1l showing the flanged end of the spray tube and the clamping ring illustrated in FIG. l2.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the outer end of a modified form of a spray tube.

FIG. ll5 is a central vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 15-15 of FIG. I4.

FIG. 16 is a greatly enlarged horizontal sectional view of the plane of the line 16-16 of FIG. 1S, and

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the flanged end of a spray tube and a clamping ring embodying another modification of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OFA THE INVENTION Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the reference character A designates the bag or liquid container of the syringe which is initially a flat rectangular bag having three sides closed and one side open to provide the mouth of the bag. The wall of the bag is formed of flexible, foldable and collapsible plastic material such as cellophane, Pliofilm or other suitable sheet materials that are strong, will withstand folding, pleating or creasing without weakening and ordinarily are difficult to rupture or tear except by penetration by a sharp point.

Preferably the sheet material is of a thickness of the order of from 0.00125 to 0.005 ofan inch.

The reference character B designates a spray tube or nozzle which is separably connected to the bag. The nozzle is formed of suitable preferably moldable plastic material and may be of any desirable shape. As shown, the tube is substantially a hollow shell which is closed at its tip end Il and has the plurality of spray openings 2 formed in longitudinal recessed portions 3 of the walls of the tube as best shown in FIG. 6. At its other end the spray tube is outwardly flared and terminates in a flange 4. Cooperating with said flange 4 to provide a liquidtight separable connection between the spray tube and the bag A is a clamping ring 5 also formed of suitable plastic material, for example the same material of which the tube is formed. The flange and the clamping ring have coacting means, in the present instance interrupted threads, for example screw threads 6 and 7 respectively which may be interrupted threads if desired, for separably connecting the ring to the flange with pleated portions of the bag wall between them. Desirably at the base of the flange is a shoulder 8 between which and the inner end of the ring 5 is clamped the wall of the bag.

In this form of the invention, after the desired liquid has been placed in the bag, the portions of .the bag wall at the mouth of the bag are gathered and folded or pleated through the clamping ring, over the inner end of the ring and in encircling relation to the ring. The ring with the pleated portions is then screwed into the flange with the pleated portions clamped between the inner end of the ring and said shoulder 8 and between the periphery of the ring and the inner surface of the flange as best shown in FIGA 3 whereby a liquid tight separable connection between the bag and the spray tube is provided. Obviously the tube can be detached or separated from the bag and ring by simply unscrewing the ring from the flange and pulling the pleated portions of the bag out of the ring. Obviously the bag may be of any desired size having a mouth substantially larger in diameter than the ring and the flange and in FIG. ll a portion of the bag has been removed for economy of drawing space.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B where the spray tube C has a flange 9 which provides a shoulder l() facing toward the closed tip of the tube. The flange also has between the end of the tube and said shoulder two oppositely facing circular beveled surfaces l1 and 12 which meet in a ridge 13. Cooperating with said flange for connecting the tube to the bag D is a clamping ring 14 which has a body 15 formed with a central opening 16 providing a clearance for the spray tube and the pleated portions D of the bag, and said body has a resilient perimetral skirt 17 formed with an inwardly projecting bead 18 which preferably comprises two circular two oppositely facing beveled surfaces 19 and 20 which meet in a ridge 18' the diameter of which is less than the diameter of the ridge 13 on the flange of the nozzle. In connecting the bag to the spray tube, the clamping ring is slid toward the tip end of the spray tube and the portions of the bag around its mouth are gathered and pleated around the flange 9 and pulled through the opening 16 in the ring. Then the ring is pushed downwardly so as to cause the bead 18 to snap over the flange and cause said pleated portions to be clamped between the beveled surfaces l1 and 20 of the tube flange and clamping ring respectively, and between the body 15 of the clamping ring and the shoulder l0 of the flange, as best shown in FIG. 6. The beveled surface 19 on the ring slides over the beveled surface 12 on the tube flange as the ring is pushed over the flange so as to expand the perimetral skirt in such a way that the bead 18 of the skirt is firmly snapped to grip the pleated portions of the bag between the surface 20 of the bead and the surface 11 of the flange.

The syringe shown in FIG. l has the flange disposed outside the bag, while the syringe of FIG. 6 has the flange inside the bag and surrounded by pleated portions at the mouth of the bag. FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B illustrate a syringe in which the flange 21 of the spray tube E is disposed outside the bag P. In connecting the spray tube to the bag, the flange 21 of the tube is held against the bag wall and the bag wall is punctured by the pointed end 22 of a clamping ring 23 which is inserted into the bag through the mouth so that the pointed end 22 may be pushed throughthe bag wall and into the spray tube. The clamping ring has a body 24 from the center of which extends the hollow pointed projection 22 which is of a diameter slightly less than the interoridiameter of the tube. The body 24 also has a resilient perimetral flange 25 formed with an inwardly extending bead 26 the diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the flange 2l. As the clamping ring is pushed through the bag wall and the projection 22 enters the spray tube, the portions of the bag wall around the opening formed by the projection are pleated around the flange and are clamped between the body 24 of the ring and the outer side of the flange and between the bead 26 and the inner side of the flange. Preferably the flange 2l and the bead 26 have beveled surfaces to facilitate snapping of the perimetral skirt over and around the flange 2l. After the spray tube has been connected to the bag, the desired liquid is placed in the bag through the mouth thereof and the portions of the bag walls at the mouth are pleated and tied as indicated at 27 to close the bag. The hollow projection 22 has a hole 28 in its pointed end through which the liquid may flow from the bag into the spray tube.

While it forms no part of the invention` a cap 29 is shown on the tip or spray end of the spray tube to close the spray openings 30 both to prevent entry of foreign matter into the tube and to prevent unintended escape of liquid from the tube through the spray openings.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIG. 8 where the spray tube F has a flange 3l formed with a circumferential groove 32 and the walls of the bag G are folded and pleated as indicated at G' around the flange and are clamped to the flange by an elastic clamping ring 33. Instead of a resilient or elastic clamping ring it will be understood that a ring formed of separably connected or hinged sections could be clamped into the groove 32.

In FIG. 9 is shown a spray tube H whose flange 34 is disposed within the bag I and the pleated portions I' at the mouth of the bag are welded or heat sealed to the flange as indicated at 35.

FIGS. 10 and 1l show another form of the syringe wherein the spray tube J has a circular coaxial flange 36 which is disposed inside the bag and with which coacts a clamping ring 37 for separably connecting the bag to the tube. The gathered and pleated portions K' of the bag I( surround the flange 36 and are clamped between the flange and the clamping ring and between one end of the clamping ring and a shoulder 38 on the tube. The quick attachable and detachable connection of the clamping ring to the tube is shown as comprising a screw thread 40 on the ring which coacts with a screw thread 4l on the exterior surface of the flange, and manifestly interrupted threads or eoacting cam projections on the flange and the ring could be used. Desirably a skirt 42 is provided on the tube to partially enclose and shield the clamping ring and the clamped pleated portions of the bag.

FIG. l2 shows another form of the invention wherein the spray tube L has a flange including a body portion 43 from which depends a frustoconical resilient flange or skirt 44. The inner surface of the frustoconical skirt has means such as interrupted threads 45 eoacting with means such as interrupted threads 46 on a clamping ring 47 for separably connecting the spray tube to the bag M with the gathered and pleated portions M of the bag pulled through and over the clamping ring and clamped between one end of the ring and the body 43 and between the perimetral surface of the ring and the interior surface of the skirt 44. In this form of the invention the clamping ring also has a ledge 48 between which and the skirt 44 is also clamped the pleated portions of the bag as best shown in FIG. l2. As the ring is screwed into the skirt, the ledge 48 first grips the bag wall between the ledge and the outer edge portion of the skirt 44 and upon further movement of the ring in the same direction, the skirt yields and the end of the ring clamps the bag wall between itself and the body 43 of the tube flange. At the same time other parts of the pleated portion of the bag wall are gripped between the threads 45 and 46. This construction provides an especially firm and reliable liquidtight connection of the bag to the spray tube.

In another form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 17, the clamping ring is shown as comprising two sections which coact with a flange 49 on the spray tube 50 for separably connecting the gathered and pleated portions N of the bag end (shown in broken lines) to the tube. One section of the clamping ring has a body 51 formed with a central opening to permit the section to be slid along the tube. Extending from the body is a frustoconical perimetral skirt 52 having means such as interrupted threads 53 coactive with similar means 54 on the frustoconical wall 55 of the other ring section for clamping the pleated portions of the bag wall between the sidewall 55 and the skirt 52 and between the end of the tube flange 49 and a circular web 56 extending inwardly from the sidewall 55. In accordance with the invention the skirt 52 is resilient or yieldable and the free edge thereof clamps a part of the pleated portions of the bag wall between itself and a ledge 57 on the clamping ring.

In FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 is shown a modification of the tip end or spray end of the spray tube which here is designated O. The sidewalls of the tube are formed with recess portions 60 extending longitudinally of the tube from its closed end 61 to a point intermediate the length of the tube. The portion 62 of the tube wall at the bottom of each recess is disposed at an angle to the axis of the tube of the order of from 2 to 5 with the outer end of said wall portion 62 disposed nearer to the axis than the inner end as best shown in FIG. l5. Spray openings 63 extend through the wall portions 62. These openings may be in the form of short longitudinal slots as shown or in any other suitable shape and the walls of the openings may also be disposed obliquely to the wall portions 62 and directed toward the tip end of the tube. With this construction, the spray jets from the tube are directed forwardly or toward the tip end of the tube.

The use of the syringe will be practically understood from the foregoing. The initially flat bag, the spray tube and the clamping ring can be easily, inexpensively and compactly packaged in the disassembled condition of the syringe. When it is desired to use the syringe the spray tube is connected to the bag as hereinbefore described, the desirable liquid being placed in the bag before attachment of the spray tube for example as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, or after attachment of the spray tube as shown in FIG. 7 wherein the liquid is inserted through the mouth of the bag after attachment of the tube and the mouth of the bag is then tied in closed condition. ln all forms of the invention, the bag is expanded from its flat condition by the liquid therein and gentle squeezing of the bag will cause the liquid to be ejected through the spray opening 2 or 63. Thereafter the syringe can be thrown away and if desired the bag, after disconnection of the spray tube can be used as a container, for example for waste products.

What l claim is:

l. A disposable syringe comprising a spray tube having spray openings at one end and a flange at the other end, and a bag having flexible foldable and collapsible walls of a thickness of the order 0.00125 to 0.005 of an inch which form a mouth substantially larger in diameter than said flange, and a liquidtight connection between said bag and said spray tube including said flange and a clamping ring inside said flange having coacting portions including respectively interior and exterior screw threads separably connecting the flange and clamping ring together and wherein the portions of said bag around said mouth are gathered and pleated through and over and in encircling relation to said clamping ring, said flange is disposed outside the bag, and said pleated portions extend and are compressed and clamped between the threads `of said clamping ring and the threads of said flange.

2, A disposable syringe as defined in claim l wherein said flange has an interior shoulder and the inner end of the clamping ring clamps said pleated portions between itself and said shoulder. 

1. A disposable syringe comprising a spray tube having spray openings at one end and a flange at the other end, and a bag having flexible foldable and collapsible walls of a thickness of the order 0.00125 to 0.005 of an inch which form a mouth substantially larger in diameter than said flange, and a liquidtight connection between said bag and said spray tube including said flange and a clamping ring inside said flange having coacting portions including respectively interior and exterior screw threads separably connecting the flange and clamping ring together and wherein the portions of said bag around said mouth are gathered and pleated through and over and in encircling relation to said clamping ring, said flange is disposed outside the bag, and said pleated portions extend and are compressed and clamped between the threads of said clamping ring and the threads of said flange.
 2. A disposable syRinge as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange has an interior shoulder and the inner end of the clamping ring clamps said pleated portions between itself and said shoulder. 